No Leniency For Diventura

On March 4, articles in various local papers appeared about Mitchell DiVentura. He has appealed to have his life sentence for the first-degree murder of his 20-year-old wife, Diane, commuted.

Eleven years ago, Mitch, at the apartment of his estranged wife, entered into an argument with her, beat her unconscious, walked to the other end of the apartment, got a hair dryer, returned to his wife and strangled her. Now, after serving only 11 1/2 years of a life sentence, Mitch, who is still in the prime of his life, is seeking to be released.

His attorney states that his attitude has changed while incarcerated and that he has been a model prisoner. This may or may not be so, but the fact remains that he has only served 11 years in prison for this hideous crime.

I am strongly urging friends of Diane and her family, other crime victims and anyone who is outraged at the possibility of a first-degree murderer being released after serving such a short sentence to write to Gov. Casey. Tell him how you feel about such leniency in our justice system, and ask him to reject the appeal that is before him now.